How long does it take you to write a book?

For my busy life of husband, parents, friends, clubs, hobbies and traveling, writing can only be a part-time job for me. There are days where I can spend as much as eight hours writing, but usually I am lucky to get three hours. I am also a stickler for trying to perfect my stories. I check line after line for any typos and grammar mistakes. I see so many stories these days with errors and it's sad to see people aren't more careful before publishing online or in print. I don't feel bad about not spending more time writing though. In the last three years I have gained about twenty pounds from so much sitting at my laptop. So last January I made myself a promise to get up and get more walking and other exercise if I want to work on another book. So for the health of my relationship and my body, I will be content to write only part-time. =)

My question was about getting the book finished and published. From start to finish it took me three years. You say your book is going to sized down? If it's a YA book, you can get away with that, but if its going to be a mainstream novel you want to make it closer to 90,000 words. Readers seem to want more these days and not even one book will do anymore. I keep hearing and seeing more sagas (3 book series) these days. I found that most of my time was spent just learning about the book industry. Hours and hours went into research and drawing, not writing. There's a lot to learn, Carmel and don't forget that once you are done with your book, it's time to learn all about marketing then. Are you prepared to do that too? =)

90,000? Really? Well I haven't checked the word count in a while, so it may have gone back up and ironically I already have a second book in mind and even have gathered notes for it, after this one is done, I will work on my second one..:) As for learning the marketing part? I guess I will have to in order to promote my book, right? So any tips you have, I will read..

I will message you with some tips I have found on the Internet. These are just the tip of the iceberg because there is a LOT LOT LOT of marketing tips and help out there. Join a writers group to start your promoting. Writers groups are good for networking on a real time face-to-face way. Brush up your selling skills because you are going to need them at events and book signings. Social networking these days are a MUST, like it or not. Join more than one! Marketing is time consuming but without it, you won't sell any books. I have learned that just because you have your book in the bookstore you aren't gonna sell it because your is among hundreds of thousands of other books in that store. You need to promote it. I will try to message you soon and send you my email in case you don't have it.

I HEAR YA, SISTER!! When I co-wrote my first book "Realmwalkers" (see profile) I saw it threaten my marriage because I spent almost three years on it and long hours every day too. It really tested my poor hubby's patience and I was resolved that this would be my first and last book EVER! But after almost a year of nothing but marketing and selling of my book, I find I really miss writing. Really! I have done some other creative projects around the house like painting and crafting. It's not the same. This next book or novella is bugging my mind. It's like my muse is nagging me to write it even if it takes a long time. It make take a years or it may take 12 months, I guess every writer has to "run" her race and not worry it's taking too long compared to others. Thanks for the encouragement and support. {{HUGS}}

No, my life isn't busy at all. Just the opposite actually. Everything seems so out of control in the Summer months. Kids are running in and out and not on a very strict schecule, etc. I am a tvaholic and could probably do all of my writing while watching tv. lol

Hahah!! I wish I could do that!

Sounds like you have a busy life, Celtic, and that plays a major factor on how fast one can write a whole book. Research for the book is another big consideration. This is why "Realmwalkers" took three years. That's a long time but I have heard that some writers have been know to take even longer. I can't even image working on a book for five or six years... or more! =D Winter months are usually a good time for writing. Something about the holidays and staying indoors where it's warm is conducive to doing things like writing or crafting. After all, there is only so much housework and watching TV you can do. =D

10,000 words in a day? WOW!!!! Sounds like you either write really fast, type really fast or done have a lot of obligations. It sounds like a dream life to me! =D Sometimes I do wish I was single again so I can do nothing but writing as long as I want without upsetting anyone. Hee hee! What kind of stories or books have you written?

I totally agree. I haven't read much about the other authors. I have heard the same things about Tolkien. I know very little about such famous authors. I try to watch specials on TV about them. I find their lives so very interesting and I am inspired by their struggles. The thing we don't see is how long their books take to write to be written. It made me a little worried and I wondered if I am a poor writer because writing doesn't seem to just flow quickly and easily as it may with others. I guess like any other craft or art, some are exceptionally talented while others have to work at it. Some have to struggle hard, while others pop out books, paintings, sculptures, etc... in weeks or months. This is why I decided to ask the writers and readers how long it takes them. This forum has been very helpful so far. =)

Thanks so much for your encouragement, Katie. And I won't give up on my next book. I know what works for me and there is no rush to get done any time soon. It will get done when it gets done. I am still promoting my first book "Realmwalkers" (see profile) and that takes a lot of time. If I want to sell that book, I need to be out there and on the Internet promoting it any way I can. I don't have an agent nor a publisher so it's up to me. Anyway, thanks again for the support and encouragement. There is so much to learn about promoting your work, whatever it is and MyLot has a lot of fellow writers who have been kind and helpful. That's why I am here. =)

Yes, that's a good way to get started, Kajal. I was blogging and doing short stories before I decided to try writing a book. When I did articles I also needed about 3 hours. Sometimes I needed to research the topic and then I needed to proofread it, so that sounds about right. What kind of articles do you cover? News? Hobbies? Travel?

That makes a lot of sense and I see you talking about writing the first complete rough draft. He would then need to do some editing or proofreading. What kind of books does he write? My book was a whopping 460 pages long. It should have been two books easily, but I dreaded the marketing involved trying to promote and sell TWO books to the public instead of one. That might be easy to do for a popular author who has a following, but for someone new like me, it would have meant more work and money to market. Now I hear publishers are looking for authors who do sagas. Sighhh... =)